Gold Tone ME-BassFL Fretless 23-Inch Scale Electric MicroBass with Gig Bag

I’ve played and sold a lot of unusual instruments over the decades, and the Gold Tone ME-Bass still surprises me every time I pick it up. At just 5.5 pounds with a single-cutaway mahogany body and a 23-inch scale length, it feels almost impossibly compact — but plug it in and you get genuine, room-filling bass tone. This is the instrument I recommend to ukulele and banjo players who want to add bass to their setup without lugging around a full-size electric, to kids starting out, to acoustic performers who need amplified bass on a small stage, and frankly to anyone who travels and refuses to leave a bass at home. The active MBass preamp runs on a single 9-volt battery and gives you independent treble and bass boost controls alongside a master volume — it’s a genuinely versatile EQ that lets you dial in everything from a warm upright-leaning thump to a bright, articulate pizzicato voice.

What makes the ME-Bass particularly clever is its specially-engineered bridge. The long-throw adjustable string compensation lets you shift the effective scale length to accommodate either the included Aquila MicroBass Thunderblack rubber/polymer strings or standard steel bass strings — so the instrument grows with you as you experiment with tone. The rosewood fingerboard has 24 frets with dot inlays, the nut is 1-11/16-inch bone, and the tuners are butterfly bass-style with metal buttons. Hardware is all black, the finish is a clean natural satin, and the mahogany neck carries a two-way adjustable truss rod, which means the setup can be properly dialed in and maintained over time. A padded gig bag comes in the box so you’re ready to play from day one.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. This instrument deserves real attention before it ships, and that’s exactly what it gets.

About the photos: Gold Tone has never photographed the fretless ME-BassFL — its image folder is a byte-for-byte copy of the fretted ME-Bass folder. The photographs on this page therefore show the fretted ME-Bass. The instrument listed here is the fretless ME-BassFL: the fingerboard is smooth, with position markers inlaid flush instead of frets, so you place notes by ear and by marker rather than against a fret. Everything else — the mahogany body, the 23-inch scale, the pickup and the electronics — is the same instrument you see.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell comes with full manufacturer warranty support and you’re buying a genuine, properly sourced product. We offer flexible financing through PayPal Pay in 4 and installment plans of 3, 6, 12, or 24 months with no late fees, plus Afterpay — so you can get playing without waiting.

Gold Tone ME-Bass Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use standard steel bass strings on the Gold Tone ME-Bass?

Yes — that’s one of the smartest features on this instrument. The specially-engineered bridge has long-throw adjustable string compensation that lets you shift the effective scale length to suit either the included Aquila Thunderblack polymer strings or standard steel bass strings. Many players start with the polymer strings for their warm, upright-influenced tone and then try steel once they’re comfortable with the setup.

Is the ME-Bass loud enough to play with other instruments without amplification?

The ME-Bass is an electric instrument, so its natural acoustic volume is very low — similar to an unplugged electric guitar. For any group playing or performance situation you’ll want to run it through a small bass amp or a PA. The good news is the active preamp gives you a strong output signal and real tonal control, so even a modest amp will produce a full, balanced bass sound.

Is the 23-inch scale a good fit for smaller hands or younger players?

Absolutely. The shorter scale means less distance between frets and lower string tension, which makes fretting significantly easier — especially for children, players with smaller hands, or anyone moving over from a ukulele or short-scale guitar. It’s also why the instrument weighs only 5.5 pounds, making it comfortable for long practice sessions or travel.

Want to know when new banjos arrive? Join our email list: Sign up here.